Ballroom Boxing and other sports news...

McCaffrey’s World
By
Bill McCaffrey
Wow! Have I had some great lunches this week and Wednesday was no different as I had a great lunch with Al Battista and Jim Wexler at the Bethesda Country Club. Of course I always enjoyed Bethesda and the “Beautiful women of Bethesda”, Ruthie Cochrane, Marilyn Jacobs, Betty Lee Kelly, Lynda Calhoun, Barbara “Bobbie” Cullers and Barbara Balquer.
Al, Jim and I discussed many things about sports. Al is one of the best basketball officials around on any level of the sport, he also has a lot of knowledge about all sports.
Jim was an All-Metro player in basketball and baseball in the early 1950’s in DC. He was an outstanding baseball pitcher and played professional baseball.
Jim Wexler was right there with other DC players who played professional baseball like Sonny Wise, Chick Payne, Garland “Bill” Daily, Billy Nolan, Billy Smith, Craig Anderson, Maury Wills, and others of the early 50’s.
It was a great lunch and it could have gone on for four hours or more. Wexler reminds me a lot of another DC native Burt Randolph Sugar and both he and Al were really into it on the trivia level.
Wexler once scored 34 points in a game against Elgin “Rabbit” Baylor. Also Wexler was smoking one of those big B.R. Sugar cigars.
We all agreed that Larry Brown is probably the best basketball coach at all levels of basketball but then Brown gets axed by the New York Knicks.
BALLROOM BOXING
Ballroom Boxing at Michael’s Eighth Avenue saw Ishmail Arvin take a six round unanimous decision over David Estrada, Arvin is now 14-0-2. Tim Coleman pounded out a six round unanimous decision over Taurus “Mushin” Corbbrey to up his record to 5-0.
Tyrell Samuel pushed his record to 7-0 by putting Margarito Lopez to sleep at 2:12 of the second round. Chris Edmonds knocked out Brandon Aita at 2:05 of the first round.
Ron Boddie and Demetrice King fought a four round exhibition bout. Ballroom Boxing will return to Michaels in September.
Jake Smith’s Baltimore Pro Boxing held a show at Martin’s West. Here are the results:
Tony Cygan six round majority decision over Roy Ashworth (10-1)
Mike Pasehall six round majority decision over William Gill (8-0).
Mike Ricasa first round TKO over Andrew Mendez (7-2).
Jessie Nicklow first round TKO over Jessie Horton (5-0).
Willie Williams four round decision over Ryan Madigan.
Phillip Brown four round decision over Jonathan Felton.
DC DIVAS REPORT
D.C. Divas finish a perfect regular season with 48-0 win over Connecticut
The D.C.Divas finished their third straight undefeated regular season and ran their 4 year regular season record to 31-1 with a win over the visiting Crush. The Divas offense amassed 442 yards and Offensive MVP Claudia Hogan recorded her first touchdown of the season. Hogan and her backfield mates Rachelle Pecovsky and LaShawn Foust helped account for 4 touchdowns and 330 yards of rushing. Pecovsky became only the second back in Divas history to gain over a thousand yards (1,087) during the regular season. Offensively the Divas have outscored their opponents this season 378-6. Defensively the Divas have made NWFA history in only allowing 6 points in 8 games and recording 7 shut outs in the process. Defensive MVP Trigger McNair had 5 solo tackles. The 7 year veteran of both the WPFL and IWFL lead a defense that only allowed 35 yards of total offense for their opponents. Ivy Tillman and Drea Major continued to lead an outstanding linebacker corps with 19 tackles between them.
With the win the Divas secure home field advantage in the playoffs as the number one seed in the Northern Conference. The Divas will host an opponent to be named on July 8th at the Prince George’s Sports and Learning Complex. Join the Divas newsletter on this page to receive the latest on the Divas playoff plans. Tickets for the Divas playoff game will go on sale beginning Monday June 19th.
Hello Diva Nation!

The Divas have begun preparations for our playoff game on Saturday July 8th at the Prince George’s Sports and Learning Complex. Tickets are now on sale at http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/event/EventListings?orgId=10235.

Order your tickets NOW to be entered into a drawing to win a 2006 D.C. Divas autographed team football. The winner will be awarded and photographed at halftime of the playoff game. Order now and be part of the Superbowl season as the Divas bring playoff football to the Washington area for the 4th year in a row. Get your VIP Playoff tickets today! Don’t delay!

2006 PLAY OFF SEEDINGS

NORTHERN CONFERENCE: Seed #1 D.C. Divas, Seed #2 Mass Mutiny, Seed #3 W. Michigan Mayhem, Seed #4 Cleveland Fusion, Seed #5 Philadelphia Phoenix, Seed #6 Columbus Comets.

SOUTHERN CONFERENCE: Seed #1, OKC Lightning, Seed #2 Pensacola Power, Seed #3 St. Louis Slam. Remaining seeds to be determined after next weekend’s games.

July 1 Games:
Divas and Mutiny - Byes
Comets at Mayhem
Phoenix @ Fusion

Winner of Comets vs. Mayhem travel to Pensacola on July 8th for second round. Winner of Phoenix vs. Fusion travel to Oklahoma on July 8th. Mutiny at home on July 8th and plays winner of St. Louis and South #6 seed which is undetermined at this time.

Divas play the winner of the #4 South and #5 South game at home on July 8 – those team will be determined on June 24th.

Go Divas!
D.C. Divas Coaches, Staff & Players
BIG TRAIN REPORT
BIG TRAIN SEASON PASSES
Make sure you don’t have to stand in long lines this summer and can sit in preferred seating in three different sections of Povich Field. And by doing so, help the Big Train raise money to fix fields for kids. Go to our web page to order your season pass or buy the pass at Povich Field at upcoming games Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. $100 for a Family Pass or Corporate Pass for 4 or $50 for an individual pass. If you tell me you want to buy a season pass in a reply email, I will have it ready for you at the front gate for Thursday’s game.
http://www.bigtrain.org/published/season_passes.html
EXPRESS SHUTS DOWN BIG TRAIN SUNDAY JUNE 18
The Rockville Express got on the board first scoring two runs in the top of the second on Father’s Day at Povich Field and that was all they needed. Dylan Gaughen (Moorpark) doubled to lead-off the second and was sacrificed to third. Ivor Hodgson (Mount Saint Mary’s) was hit by a pitch and stole second. Both scored on a single by Phil Boscarino (UC-Riverside). Billy Gross (West Virginia) did not allow a base runner past second and didn’t allow a hit until Preston Pehrson (Texas) singled with one out in the seventh. Express reliever Nathan Perlitsh (Cuesta) retired three Big Train hitters in a row in the eighth. But in the bottom of the ninth, the Big Train threatened. Perlitsh walked the lead-off hitter Cory Lane (UNC-Charlotte) and Nick Cleckler blooped a single into right-centerfield. Express second baeman Boscarino made a great diving catch and scoop toss to force Cleckler at second and the next two Big Train players went quietly to end the game. With the win, the Express moved into a four way tie for first with the Big Train, Bombers, and Orioles. Brian Anderson (San Francisco) allowed only the two hits in the second while striking out five in five innings of work but took the loss. Relievers Austin Hinkle (Coastal Carolina) and Wyatt Stewart (Richmond) worked four shutout innings without allowing a hit.
Rockville Express (5-4)
0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 2 2 1
Bethesda Big Train (5-4)
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 2 2
WP: Gross (2-0)
LP: Anderson (0-1)
Save: Perlitsh (1)
2B: Gaughen (RE)
Attendance: 525
Time: 2 hours, 19 minutes
CRSL ACTION & STANDINGS — SUNDAY JUNE 18
Results of Sunday June 18
Rockville Express defeated Bethesda Big Train 2-0 at Povich Field
SS-T Thunderbolts defeated Youse’s Maryland Orioles 4-1 at Blair Stadium
Regular Season Standings
Bethesda Big Train
5-4 .556 —
Rockville Express
5-4 .556 —
Youse’s Maryland Orioles
5-4 .556 —
College Park Bombers
6-5 .546 —
SS-T Thunderbolts
4-5 .444 1
Maryland Redbirds
3-6 .333 2
The Montgomery Cup sponsored by The Gazette: Bethesda (3-1), Rockville (1-1), Silver Spring-Takoma (1-3).
Log onto http://www.ripkensrcollegebaseball.org/ for up-to-date boxscores and standings. Sign-up for CRSL email alerts:
http://ripkensrcollegebaseball.org/maillist/program/action.cgi?action=adduser
FOR MORE BIG TRAIN INFORMATION
For more information, please log onto www.bigtrain.org or call 301/983-1006. Or email us at faninfo@bigtrain.org.
CAL RIPKEN, SR. COLLEGIATE BASEBALL LEAGUE
2006 is the second season of the Cal Ripken, Sr. Collegiate Baseball League. The Maryland-based collegiate wooden bat league is comprised of six teams: Bethesda Big Train, College Park Maryland Bombers, Maryland Redbirds, Rockville Express, Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts, and Youse’s Maryland Orioles. The teams play a 40-game regular season that starts on Friday, June 9 with the Maryland Orioles visiting the Big Train at Shirley Povich Field in Bethesda. The Cal Ripken, Sr. Collegiate Baseball League has a license agreement with the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation for the use of the name Cal Ripken, Sr. and is not affiliated with nor sponsored by the Foundation or Ripken Baseball. For information, please log onto www.ripkensrcollegebaseball.org.
BIG TRAIN 2006 SEASON SPONSORS
Thanks to these organizations for their generous support of Big Train baseball for the 2006 season: Chevy Chase Bank, Grossberg CPAs, Ledo Pizza, Miller & Long Co., Ourisman Automotive, and Sandy Spring Builders.
STILL TIME TO SIGN-UP FOR POVICH PICNIC
There is still time to schedule your end of season party, corporate outing, neighborhood get-together, or birthday party at the Davis Family Picnic Pavilion. Sign-up now: http://www.bigtrain.org/published/kids/picnic.html
SPECIAL SUNDAY Os-NATS DISCOUNT FOR BIG TRAIN FANS
Randy Schools, the head of the Big Train Booster Club since 1999, has tickets available at $4.50 each for the Sunday 1:35 p.m. game between the Orioles and Nationals at Camden Yards. To take advantage of this great offer, please call Randy at 301/402-6493.
FREDERICKSON STRIKES OUT 13: TRAIN BACK IN FIRST
Big Train starting pitcher Evan Frederickson’s (Virginia Tech) fastball was working on Tuesday afternoon at Shipley Field as he struck out the first seven batters he faced and 13 in all over six innings. When Preston Pehrson (Texas) launched a huge home run over the wall in rightfield to leadoff the second inning, it looked like that might be all Frederickson would need. But in the top of the fifth, Mike Rozak (Maryland) singled, stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored on an RBI single by William Greenberg (Washington) to knot the score at one. Under league rules, each game of a doubleheader is 7 innings. In the top of the seventh with one out, Matt Long (Santa Clara) fouled off ball after ball before reaching first on a single. Alex Massari (San Francisco) walked. With two out, pinch-hitter Adam Plummer (Pittsburgh-Johnstown) slapped a ball to the right of the first baseman and reached first on a disputed call to load the bases. Luke Adkins (Southern Mississippi) also reached on an infield hit scoring Long with the go-ahead run. Pehrson walked to increase the lead to two before Brian Dozier (Southern Mississippi) cleared the bases with a three RBI double. When Dozier scored on a wild pitch, Bethesda had a 7-1 lead. Chris Cullen (Michigan State) shut down the Bombers in the bottom of the seventh to preserve the win. Adam Leblow (Tennessee-Martin) was the hard luck loser for the Bombers, going the distance and striking out six.
Bethesda Big Train (6-4) 0 1 0 0 0 0 6 — 7 8 0
College Park Bombers (6-6) 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 — 1 2 1
WP: Frederickson (1-1)
LP: Leblow (0-2)
HR: Pehrson (BBT)
2B: Dozier (2) (BBT)
Attendance: 24
Time: 1 hour, 44 minutes
The nightcap was another great pitchers duel until an extra inning meltdown by the Bombers allowed the Big Train to escape College Park with a doubleheader sweep. Neither Bomber starter Jake Smothers (Tennessee-Martin) nor Big Train starter Keith Moreland (UNC-Charlotte) allowed a run through three innings. Chris Nann (Maryland) opened the scoring in the bottom of the fourth with a home run to straight-away centerfield. Bethesda tied the score at one in the top of the fifth when Chris Taylor (UNC-Charlotte) singled, moved to second on an error, advanced to third on a groundout, and scampered home on a passed ball. In the top of the seventh, Taylor walked and was replaced by pinch-runner Adam Redd (Virginia Tech). Redd moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on a controversial play when Nick Cleckler (Jacksonville State) attempted to sacrifice him to third and the ball got away from the second baseman covering first. Long walked, stole second, and scored on a single by Steven Leach (Jacksonville State) to give Bethesda a 3-1 lead. Moreland came out to pitch the seventh and final inning but gave up a single and a walk. Wyatt Stewart (Richmond) got a sacrifice out but then gave up an infield single to load the bases and a two RBI single to Greenberg to tie the game at 3. Austin Hinkle (Coastal Carolina) put out the fire and pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning. In the top of the ninth, things got ugly. The Bombers leftfielder dropped a fly ball off the bat of Big Train lead-off hitter Steve Fay (Mount Saint Marys). Fay scored from second when the Bomber pitcher fielded a sacrifice bunt and threw it down the rightfield line. Long doubled home Massari. It was deja vu all over again when the pitcher threw another sacrifice down the baseline allowing Long to score. Hinkle allowed two hits in the ninth but but no runs.
Bethesda Big Train (7-4) 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 4 — 7 5 0
College Park Bombers (6-7) 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 — 3 8 6
WP: Hinkle (1-0)
LP: Gordon (0-1)
HR: Nann (CPB)
2B: Jakubowski (CPB), Long (BBT), Gonzales (CPB)
Attendance: 40
Time: 2 hours and 49 minutes
Big Train Notes:
CRSL ACTION & STANDINGS — TUESDAY JUNE 20
Results of Tuesday June 20
Bethesda Big Train defeated College Park Bombers 7-1 (7) & 7-3 (9) at Shipley Field
Regular Season Standings
Bethesda Big Train 7-4 .636 —
Rockville Express 5-4 .556 1
Youse’s Maryland Orioles 5-4 .556 1
College Park Bombers 6-7 .462 2
SS-T Thunderbolts 4-5 .444 2
Maryland Redbirds 3-6 .333 3
The Montgomery Cup sponsored by The Gazette: Bethesda (3-1), Rockville (1-1), Silver Spring-Takoma (1-3).
Log onto http://www.ripkensrcollegebaseball.org/ for up-to-date boxscores and standings. Sign-up for CRSL email alerts: http://ripkensrcollegebaseball.org/maillist/program/action.cgi?action=adduser
BAYSOX REPORT
WALK-OFF BALK WINS IT FOR BAYSOX, 3-2
June 22, 2006 - Rock Cats Balk At Chance To Beat Baysox, Bowie Wins 3-2
On a hot, sticky, Thursday evening in Bowie two Orioles prospects made their AA debut. Both Dustin Yount, son of Hall of Famer Robin “The Kid” Yount, and Bryan Bass, the Orioles 1st round draft pick in 2001 were called up from Frederick to swap the places of Tripper Johnson and Mario Delgado, who were relegated to Class A Frederick.

Former #1 draft pick, Beau Hale, another former 1st round draft pick, made his second start for the Baysox this season and would last all of six innings, striking out four and surrendering just one run to lower his season ERA to 1.73.

Batting second in the lineup, Bass got his first AA hit - a hot shot to third baseman Matt Moses - in the 1st inning, but was stranded as Leo Daigle and Tony Alvarez went down swinging.
Yount’s first at-bat came in the bottom of the 2nd inning as the 9th round pick fouled off a number of balls before flying out down the left field line.
The Baysox scored first for the 30th time this season as Noah Hall led off the 2nd inning by drawing a walk and then stole second base. Rayner Bautista then singled Hall home for the first run of the game. The Baysox lead would hold for only two innings as New Britain tied it up in the 5th inning on back-to-back doubles.
Daigle corrected that problem though in the bottom of the 6th with a one out solo shot off the end off his bat that cleared the wall in right center. Immediately following Daigle’s blast, Tony Alvarez drilled the first pitch he saw to the exact same location of Daigle’s shot but just one foot shy of back-to-back home runs. Alvarez legged out a triple on the play but Hall would go down swinging the lumber and “The Kid’s” kid was rung up on strike three to ensure the Baysox only got one run in the inning.
But taking a 2-1 lead into the wouldn’t be safe enough as reliever Brian Forystek gave up a game-tying home run to Trent Oeltjen in the 7th.
Closer Marino Salas entered the game in the 9th inning and with a man on third and two outs and induced Trent Oeltjen into grounding out to Yount.
Hall blooped a single into left field to start the home 9th and then stole second during Yount’s at bat. The throw from the Rock Cats catcher sailed high and into center field allowing Hall to hustle into third base. Ryan Hubele and then pinch-hitter Jeff Fiorentino both drew intentional walks. With the game winning run just 90 feet away and the bases loaded, Cory Keylor strolled to the plate to pinch hit for Pete Shier. New Britain reliever Tristan Crawford didn’t even get a pitch off to Keylor but instead balked in the winning run as the Baysox pull out a stunner 3-2 in front of 3,929.
The majority of people in attendance, including manager Don Werner, were shocked and surprised at the way the game ended. In talking about the way the game ended, Werner said, “That was the first one I’ve seen and I didn’t even see what he [Crawford] did but I was talking to Scotty McGregor and he said he [Crawford] definately balked and so we’ll take it!”
ON DECK: New Britain and Bowie face each other tomorrow night in the series finale. RHP Nick Blackburn will go for the Rock Cats and Bowie will throw RHP Brian Finch.
BAYSOX SPLIT SERIES OPENING TWINBILL WITH NEW BRITAIN
June 20, 2006 - Bowie Plays 17 Innings, Splits DH with Rock Cats 3-5 & 4-3
It’s official. Bowie and New Britain love playing extra innings against each other.

On May 8th the Rock Cats and Baysox played 16 innings in a 7-9 Baysox loss. Tuesday night wouldn’t be much different.
In the Baysox fourth doubleheader this season, the New Britain Rock Cats came to Bowie to make up a rained out game that was originally scheduled for June 4th in New Britain. Tonight, game one was the makeup game and Game Two was the originally scheduled game for June 20th.
Since both games were night games the two teams were slated to play two seven inning games.
RHP James Johnson took on the Cats in the first game and went 7.0 full IP but gave up three earned runs on seven hits and three walks. The Baysox offense, however, helped Johnson out the best they could as they got the New Yorker two runs before he left the game at the end of the 7th and was replaced by closer Marino Salas.
The visiting Rock Cats scored three runs in the top of the 1st inning off Johnson before he settled down and once again the Baysox would have to play catch up.
And that is just what they would do.
Tony Alvarez led off the bottom of the 2nd with a single up the middle, was moved over to second by Leo Daigle’s single to right, both runners advanced a bag on a passed ball and Alvarez scored easily on Mario Delgado’s 18th RBI of the season - a fly out to right field.
In the 5th frame Delgado doubled down the left field line and after finding himself at third base, thanks to a Rayner Bautista sac bunt, and the designated hitter scored on Pete Shier’s grounder to second base.
In the 7th inning the Baysox found themselves down 3-2 in their last at-bats. Bautista came to bat with one out and a man on and ended up grounding into a fielder’s choice erasing Daigle at second, but advanced to second on an wide throw from the Rock Cats second sacker. With Bautista on second pinch-hitter Jeff Fiorentino, who hasn’t played the last five games due to a sore hamstring, slapped a single that just barely squeaked past the outstretched arms of both New Britain’s first baseman and second baseman allowing Bautista to score the game tying run.
Although the game was scheduled for seven innings the Baysox run in the bottom of the 7th tied the game and forced extra innings for the 11th time this season.

New Britain would gain the advantage off Salas in the top of the 9th inning scoring two runs on three hits while Tristan Crawford game in to quell the Baysox hopes of another come-from-behind victory.
Game two would play out much like game one with both teams locked at three runs at the end of regulation and heading to an unprecedented 12th extra innings game for the Baysox.
However this time the Baysox would strike first for three runs in the 1st inning off Rock Cats starter John Thomas while Richard Stahl allowed the visitors back into the game with two runs in the 2nd and another in the 3rd.
In their last at bats in the 7th inning all three Baysox batters struck out sending the game into extras at 3-3 again.
However, this time the Baysox would prevail as Tripper Johnson got things started in the bottom of the 8th with a single to deep shortstop, moved to third on a Cory Keylor single and a Tony Alvarez fielder’s choice and scored the winning run as Noah Hall dribbled an inside pitch down the first base line that was fielded by New Britain’s pitcher, Julio DePaula, who made an off-balance throw to the plate in an attempt to gun out Johnson but the throw sailed high and Johnson tagged the dish with the winning run of the game.

Quite a number of the 3,879 paid attendance stuck around to watch their Baysox split the doubleheader with New Britain.
WE GET LETTERS….
Jim and John letters..
Hey Rambler, good to hear from you. Agree on the list of players. Mourning worked out where my son is a personal trainer, and I spoke with him shortly after he began to condition himself for his comeback. I wished him well, but have to admit I didn’t feel he would be effective any longer. That’s why I don’t get paid to scout for the NBA. Had lunch with that wild man yesterday, and found out he hustled some money for setting up that charity game with me and Baylor. I called Baylor and told him, and now McCaffrey is a marked man unless we get a piece of the action. Any chance? Keep in touch and stay well. Jim


Jimmy, well I guess Cuban can forget about his parade in Dallas. However, he is invited to ride down Biscayne Blvd with the Heat. Wade a 3rd year guy and is just so determined and takes over. But so glad for Alonzo Mourning (Georgetown) who came down with that deadly kidney disease and got a transplant and then comes back and plays at the level he does when he’s out there. Have watched him his whole career and always gave 150%. Love those athletes like Magic, Jordan, Byrd, Havlajek. Man, you have to kill those guys to win. Hope all is well. John
Hey Billy,
I hate to say it but that Baltimore sports chick Anita Marks needs help, she’s terrible, she would make a partner of Fabulous Moolah in a tag team wrestling match.
Bill,
Think too many are listening to Hubie Brown who after the second game had the Mavericks like the second coming. The Heat took out a much more physical team in Detroit and closed it in Detroit. Dirk’s not getting those easy baskets now that they are doing to him what they did to Shaq in the first two. Will be a dog-fight till the end. Still fun to watch Wade though.
John
Dear John,
Are they still celebrating in South Beach?
Bill
To JRL From JW
Hey John, have I lost a pen pal? Probably pissed off by my Rambler rants. All true of course. Bobby Ahearn is certainly a name out of the past. I remember you could always hit the fast ball. If you want some more of me, be aware that I am now bringing it about 30mph. Of course that is from 40 feet and then I can’t wipe the next day. Warning! Don’t dig that right foot in too deep. Affectionately, THE RED RAIDER
Two of DC’s best!
Bill,
Anita Marks is not as good as the Sports Babe! I also hear she can’t play football. That station 1300 AM shows why Baltimore remains a “Bush League village”.
Ajax Westmer
Dear Ajaz,
Don’t be so hard on Anita, after all she is a looker and one out of three ain’t bad.
Bill
Bill,
How do you think Nicola Volkof is going to do running for the House of Delegates from Baltimore County?
Baltimore Benji
Dear Benji,
I understand he is going to challenge Delegate Patrick McDonough.
Bill
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